Buckley Health Centre completed within a year

A MULTI-MILLION pound health centre which has been more than 12 years in the making will be up and running by next March, health bosses confirmed.

Councillors said they are delighted at the progress being made on the new £6.8m Buckley Health Centre.

Some frustrated members previously described the progress on the scheme as a decade-long “shambles”, and were left fuming last year when wrangling between the health board and developers delayed work even further.

But spades finally entered the ground in December and now Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCHUB) said work will be completed next February – meaning the health centre could be up and running the following month.

The new centre will replace the town’s outdated Roseneath Health Centre on Padeswood Road, as well as providing a base for some other GP practice services.

Cllr Ron Hampson told the Leader he hopes the next winter will be the last that residents “will have to suffer” visits to the existing health centre and says seeing the new Liverpool Road centre taking shape is exciting for the town.

“We are very pleased with the way things are going,” Cllr Hampson said.

“All of the footings and bases are in and it will soon start to rise up from the ground.

“The existing facility is in a poor state and hopefully this will be the last winter that people will have to suffer it.

“The new health centre has been a long time coming and badly needed in Buckley, so to see that it is finally happening is very exciting for everyone.”

The former Ysgol Belmont School was demolished to make way for the new health centre on the junction of Liverpool Road and Alltami Road, near Elfed High School.

Cllr Rhian Roberts said: “It's great news that we are nearing the middle stages of the build on the new Buckley Health Centre.

“It is well overdue and will be a great asset to Buckley.

“It has been a high priority for the people living in the area, and it’s great to see progress.”

The new building will house two general practices with 12 consulting rooms, as well as ancillary support rooms and parking for more than 100 vehicles.

A BCUHB spokesman said: “Work by the developer, the Healthcare Property Company Wales, is progressing well on site and their contractor anticipates that the building will be completed in February 2015.

“There will then be a short commissioning period while the health board’s services and those provided by the Roseneath and Bradley GP Practices relocate to the new building.